Screen-related dry eye: a lamp appears to improve symptoms, but not objective measures

A lamp tested alongside artificial tears, not instead of them

This prospective, single-center study included people with newly diagnosed screen-related dry eye and limited corneal staining. The findings therefore do not necessarily apply to more severe or long-standing cases.

The researchers assigned 34 participants to a full-spectrum monitor lamp plus artificial tears and 32 to artificial tears alone, with no lamp provided by the study. The modified intention-to-treat analysis included 65 participants.

The two primary outcomes were changes in the OSDI symptom score and noninvasive tear film breakup time, known as NIBUT, from baseline to one month.

An advantage in reported symptoms, with no demonstrated objective difference

Symptoms improved in both groups. The improvement in OSDI score was greater with the lamp, with an adjusted between-group difference of −7.33 points. This difference was statistically significant, but the abstract provides neither a confidence interval nor an analysis clarifying its clinical relevance.

NIBUT also increased in both groups, with no significant difference between them. No significant advantage of the lamp was observed for the other measured parameters: tear meniscus height, conjunctival redness, tear film lipid layer thickness or proportion of partial blinks.

This distinction matters: perceived relief can be useful, but it does not, on its own, demonstrate improved tear film stability or ocular surface condition.

What this trial tells us

The finding supports exploring lighting adjustments as an addition to artificial tears, not as a replacement. It also does not establish that the benefit comes from the full spectrum itself: the comparison group did not use a different lamp.

The small sample and one-month follow-up leave open the question of whether the benefit persists. The abstract does not specify blinding procedures, funding or conflicts of interest. No study-related adverse events were reported, but this is not enough to establish long-term safety.

What we can take away

This lamp appears to provide additional short-term relief for some patients using artificial tears. However, the trial demonstrates neither an additional objective improvement nor a benefit specific to the full spectrum.